Subseries A, Administration, board of directors, and related material,1951-2001, n.d. (#1.1-4.21, 13FB.1m-13FB.2m, OD.1, SD.1, PD.1, E.1)
Scope and Contents
Subseries A, Administrative, 1951-2001, n.d. (#1.1-4.21, 13FB.1m-13FB.2m, OD.1, SD.1, PD.1, E.1), contains correspondence; reports; interviews; minutes; membership and financial records; guidelines and policies; publications and publicity materials; and other records that document the formation and operation of ASPO/Lamaze. Founded in New York City in 1960, the national headquarters were later relocated to Washington, D.C. Correspondence in this subseries discusses power dynamics and occasional tensions between chapters and the national organization. It also includes detailed records about the requirements for accreditation and teacher certification. This subseries was created from records received from several members of ASPO's national staff as well as teachers and physicians, nurses, and administrators from chapters. It includes administrative records and papers created and kept by some of the pioneering members of ASPO, including Heinz Luschinsky, Deborah Tanzer, Gary Hickernell, and "Sunnye" [Esta Ruth] Strickland, who were instrumental in ASPO's early history. Very little material by or about co-founder Marjorie Karmel exists within this collection, the exception being correspondence with Sunnye Strickland (#4.11) and some education material. The papers of ASPO co-founder Elisabeth Bing appear in subseries B. Birth reports collected by Strickland (#4.16) are closed until January 1, 2048 through January 1, 2052, as marked. Strickland's correspondence contains many letters detailing women's birth experience; personal names and identifications were redacted.
Files pertaining to the board of directors shed light on many projects undertaken by ASPO, including the establishment of protocols for using films to educate. Correspondence and meeting minutes of the Board frankly discuss tensions in the organization (among divisions and between the local chapters and national administration) and the development of organizational policy. The subseries includes information about French obstetrician, Pierre Vellay, who wrote Childbirth without Pain. A pioneer in the movement of psychoprophylaxis in labor and the active participation of in the delivery process, Vellay visited America in 1963 at the invitation of the ASPO. Psychoprophylaxis in delivery and the Lamaze method, however, met with fierce criticism from some physicians and the general public; this subseries documents the animosity expressed toward ASPO in its formative years. Materials related to the policies, formation, and regulation of state chapters are also found in this subseries. Records created by those chapters (correspondence, publicity, publications) are located in Series III. This subseries is arranged alphabetically.
Dates
- Creation: 1849-2006
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1951-2001
Language of Materials
Most materials in English; some materials in French, Spanish, German, Italian.
Access Restrictions:
Access. Unrestricted. An appointment is necessary to use any audiovisual material. Although most of the records are open to research, the following folders, access to which would constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy, are restricted: Folder #4.16 is closed until January 1, 2048; #PD.1 is closed until January 1, 2044; #PD.3 is closed until January 1, 2055; #6.12-7.4 are closed until January 1, 2043-January 1, 2047 ; #9.13-9.14, 9.16 are closed until January 1, 2080- January 1, 2082; #PD.22sl is closed until January 1, 2057; #PD.36sl is closed until January 1, 2050; #PD.37sl is closed until January 1, 2057; #PD.39sl is closed until January 1, 2061.
Extent
5.71 linear feet ((11 + 1/2 file boxes, 1 folio box) plus 3 folio folders, 1 folio+ folders, 1 supersize folder, 30 photograph folders, 133 slides, electronic records)Repository Details
Part of the Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute Repository
The preeminent research library on the history of women in the United States, the Schlesinger Library documents women's lives from the past and present for the future. In addition to its traditional strengths in the history of feminisms, women’s health, and women’s activism, the Schlesinger collections document the intersectional workings of race and ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and class in American history.